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- Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home

It's like being part of a familyPamela B(Resident / Service User)

Excellent food with a good choice on the menuDiana B(Resident / Service User)


It's like being part of a familyPamela B(Resident / Service User)

Excellent food with a good choice on the menuDiana B(Resident / Service User)


Watlington is a stunning home in a rural village, with spectacular gardens overlooking the Chiltern Hills. But it’s the outstanding CQC rated team (April 2019) and the care they provide which makes it special.
So many of the team, who provide residential, dementia, nursing, palliative and pre-bookable respite care, have been at Watlington for over 10 years.
They are passionate about getting to know who their residents are as unique...
Care Provided by Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 60 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Facilities
- Lift
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Our weekly fees are individual to each of our residents and are subject to a pre-admission assessment, which is required to understand the level of care and support needed. Our 2026 weekly care fees for residential care start from £1554 and for nursing care £2156, but may be in the region of 30% more*. This depends on your care needs and the type of bedroom that is right for you, from our standard rooms through to our premium bedroom options.
*If you require more specialist care such as 1-2-1 support, your weekly fee could be higher.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Support you may be entitled to
- If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £267.68 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Sanctuary Care Ltd
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Julie Cooper(Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (60)
Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home Reviews (159)
Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.925) out of 10, based on 47 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home has 159 reviews.
I have received regular updates on my wife's progress, which has helped me enormously in this transition period. She tells me how nice it is there and how nice the food is. I really cannot praise the staff and management team enough for the outstanding Job they are doing.
Thank you for your heartfelt review of Watlington. We're delighted to hear that your wife is settling in well and appreciates the environment and home cooked food. Our dedicated team strive to provide outstanding care, especially during such significant transitions and it is wonderful to hear this...
My Mum was admitted July 2023, and is now settled on the dementia ward. The Manager and Deputy Manager were very supportive and helpful from the start and all other members of staff have proved to be extremely caring and encouraging in dealing with my Mum. If there are any issues or matters that need my attention they are very quick in contacting me. The home has a very warm and welcoming feel and I feel confident my Mum is in the best place she can be.
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us. We're so pleased to hear that your mum has settled well at Watlington and that you feel supported by our team. Knowing that our staff's care and communication have given you peace of mind means a great deal to us, especially as...
I feel very fortunate that we were lucky enough to get a place here for our mother.
I would recommend this home 100%.
Thank you to all members of the team for all you do.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback for Watlington. We're thrilled to hear that you feel the care home is so warm and inviting. It means so much to hear that the professionalism and care of the team makes such a difference. We're truly grateful for your recommendation and kind words, thank you for your support.
My husband has only been a resident for 1 month but seems to have settled in well thanks to the staff who are all so caring, kind and considerate. When I visit it always feels very welcoming and relaxed. I feel very lucky to have found Watlington as it seems to be an extremely well-run home.
Thank you so much for your lovely review of Watlington. We're delighted to hear that your husband has settled in well and that you find the atmosphere so welcoming and relaxed. Our caring and dedicated staff take pride in ensuring all residents feel comfortable and supported. We're so glad you feel lucky to have found us, and we appreciate your kind words about our team's efforts.
The staff make the home very special, they are so kind and accommodating and put the patient's individual needs first.
Thank you so much, it has made a difficult decision so much easier.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We're so pleased to hear that your mum is enjoying herself at Watlington, especially the activities and new friendships she's made. It's wonderful to know that the team have made a difference for both of you and that we've made this transition a bit easier. Your feedback means so much thank you.
Review of my mum very thorough. Discussed how she is during the day and night and any observations. Talked about my mum's medications. We are very happy with the care she receives and keeps well and happy. I feel she is stimulated by staff and residents with lots of activities and time to talk. My mum says all are nice and very good and caring and she enjoys her days.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful feedback for Watlington. We are so pleased to hear that you're so happy with the care your mum is receiving. It's wonderful to read your comments about the activities and social interaction, as these are such important parts of life at Watlington. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and we will be sure to pass it on to the team, thank you.
All the staff are very welcoming and helpful. Any concerns they may have they don't hesitate to contact me. The home is local to me and very well thought of by people I know. My cousin is blind and not very mobile but the staff make sure he is included in various activities.
Thank you so much for your kind words about our team at Watlington. We're delighted to hear that you've had a positive experience with our staff and that your cousin can enjoy taking part in all the activities. We will be sure to share your feedback thanks again.
From the initial visit, we felt reassured that Mum would be cared for in the final months of her life. All the staff were kind and caring. We visited Mum regularly and were always welcomed with a smile and an update on her day. I would highly recommend Watlington and District Residential and Nursing Home.
Thank you for your heartfelt review. We are touched to hear that you felt reassured and supported during your mum's time with us. Our team at Watlington strive to provide compassionate care, and we are glad that you experienced this. Your recommendation means a lot to us.
It is always very difficult to place a loved one in a care home. My husband seems to have settled very well. I think that the reason is that the carers have been so kind and caring, as well as making him laugh and also listening to him. May it continue.
Thank you for your review for Watlington, it is wonderful to hear how well your husband is settling in. The team are certainly very special indeed.
We received outstanding care of my sister during her time with them. From visiting the home early on to the care when my sister recently passed away was always excellent. The staff, management and other patients all made my sister's experience a positive one, despite the challenges of her illness. I can only highly commend your facility.
Thank you for your review for Watlington, especially written at such a difficult time. The team will be so proud to read your positive words and personal recommendations.
My husband has been a resident at Watlington and District Nursing Home since November 2023. He has been looked after by wonderfully kind and caring staff, they manage difficult behaviour with patience and genuine kindness. The food is much appreciated by my husband, especially the afternoon cake! The gardens are lovely, sitting with my husband in the sunshine is a real pleasure. Overall the nursing home is a safe and caring place for my husband.
Thank you for your five-star review of Watlington, we are delighted to hear how happy you are with your husband's care. The team are certainly outstanding and the home is in a beautiful setting with glorious gardens to enjoy.
I spent one-week having respite care after an operation. This care home is five-star in every aspect. All members of staff are smiley, friendly and totally professional. I would recommend this care home to anyone needing respite or longer-term care.
Thank you for your review of Watlington, we are delighted to hear you were so happy with your stay and welcome you back if you ever need respite or any type of care or support in the future.
My mother was in Watlington for almost 5 weeks the care was amazing the kindness and love they showed her made life easier for the family, but also the kindness they showed us was lovely nothing was too much trouble kept us informed about everything even when she passed away they were super can't thank them enough very special home.
Thank you for your review, especially written at such a difficult time. The team are certainly very special and we are so pleased they could be there to support you, they will be touched to read your comments.
Excellent in all respects. Pleasant and caring. Atmosphere was peaceful and homely. I have rated food and drink and activities as excellent, although the resident was not well enough to benefit from this. Everything looked perfect though. Most grateful for everything. Many thanks.
Thank you for your review of Watlington, the team will be proud to read your kind words.
I was very impressed, particularly with the nursing staff and other staff in general. I confidently recommend care in Watlington.
Thank you for your five-star review of Watlington, the team will be delighted to read your comments.
I was next of kin for an elderly lady who lived at Watlington & District Nursing Home for the last seven years of her life. She was not able to walk for most of the years at the home. She had Alzheimer's which means she often thought she could go home. She was confused in time and place. The home was very kind and patient and made my friend feel safe and cared for despite her disabilities and worries.
Thank you for your five-star review of Watlington, the team will be delighted to read your comments.
A good experience visiting our teacher.
Thank you for your review for Watlington, we are so pleased you enjoyed your visit and the team look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
A lovely residential environment and one which I would greatly appreciate when I'm older. We've been very well looked after by the staff, and had an excellent lunch.
Thank you for your five star review for Watlington, the team are certainly very special.
Staff have shown incredible diligence and sensitivity caring for my mother through a life-threatening condition, hospital admission and return to the nursing home on a palliative care basis. Despite not eating and in a delirium, nursing staff have nursed her to a position where she is enjoying meals and able to participate in the life of the home as much as she is able, despite having advanced Alzheimer's/vascular dementia and co-morbid physical problems.
Thank you for your review for Watlington, the team will be delighted to read your comments about your mother's care.
Since my husband has been at Watlington District Residential and Nursing Home, he has always been treated with dignity and respect. The staff have been very supportive and helpful whenever I have had any concerns or questions, particularly around finances.
Thank you for your five-star review for Watlington and District Residential and Nursing Home, the team certainly are passionate about supporting loved ones as well as their residents.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 19 April 2019Outstanding
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveOutstanding
- SafeGood
- Well-ledOutstanding
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (4) & Events (0)
- 27 Jul 2026
We're incredibly proud to share that we've been recognised in the Lottie Awards 2026, receiving not one but two outstanding accolades: Top 100 Care Home Top 10 for Outdoor Space...
- 21 Apr 2026
93-year-old resident at Sanctuary Care’s Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home has joyfully celebrated a milestone in his faith, proving that you can achieve your dreams at any age....
- 03 Feb 2026
It was the red-carpet treatment for our team at Watlington in Oxfordshire, recently, when they scooped victory at the prestigious Caring UK Awards 2025. Watlington and District Residential and Nursing...
There are no upcoming events for Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home.
Awards / Recognitions (9)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
Meet the Team (7)

Julie has worked at Watlington and District Nursing Home for nearly two decades, proudly leading her devoted team to their CQC 'Outstanding' rating in 2019.
Julie has a very loyal and long-serving team, who are passionate about enriching the lives of their residents each and every day.

Samantha has been working as a care assistant since 2020 and loves making her residents smile.

After working with us at Watlington since 2022, it now feels like home for our registered nurse Quenie.

Leila loves helping people and has been our administrator for over a decade at Watlington.

Maggie has nearly worked at Watlington for an amazing 20 years and loves the family feel to the home.

Hassa has worked with us since 2022 and really enjoys caring for our residents. She says Watlington is a lovely home to work and live in.

Marion has also worked at Watlington for nearly two decades. She says Watlington is such a happy place to be, and her residents and fellow colleagues are just the best.
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